Painted or Dash kit?
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I would do a dash kit. That way, if you dont like it, you can just take it off.
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130 Posts
But is the dash kit easy to take off?
Will it leave any residue that will be a bitch to take off?
I was thinking about getting a "theme" going for the interior, but I was wondering which color to go with, I got a black exterior, so I was thinking a black and "another color" for the interior. But, I dont know "the other color". I was also thinking about an all black interior, but idk how that will look, does anyone have an all black interior that I could take a look at? Thanks alot.
And voortrek3, I would go with the dash kit, so if you wanted to ever take it off you could use some "goof off" or something like that. But, if you're tight on money go with the paint.
Will it leave any residue that will be a bitch to take off?
I was thinking about getting a "theme" going for the interior, but I was wondering which color to go with, I got a black exterior, so I was thinking a black and "another color" for the interior. But, I dont know "the other color". I was also thinking about an all black interior, but idk how that will look, does anyone have an all black interior that I could take a look at? Thanks alot.
And voortrek3, I would go with the dash kit, so if you wanted to ever take it off you could use some "goof off" or something like that. But, if you're tight on money go with the paint.
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1,925 Posts
I vote for the dash kit.
Installation would be easier than paint
It will look just as good, if not better than paint
It would be more durable than paint
And if it was somewhat difficult to remove, it'll still come off easier than paint.
Installation would be easier than paint
It will look just as good, if not better than paint
It would be more durable than paint
And if it was somewhat difficult to remove, it'll still come off easier than paint.
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3,487 Posts
I would go for the paint....many reasons. Those kits are not an easy install to get them on straight. They don't come off easily if you change your mind (they'll break for sure). The adhesive is a bear to remove..... The individual sections can warp in the sun, or simply with age. You'll probably be unable to buy a single piece if one goes bad...... or if you can find one, the colors will be slightly off.
With paint, you can do a touch-up, or go back to stock, or some other color for the price of a can of paint.
With paint, you can do a touch-up, or go back to stock, or some other color for the price of a can of paint.
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2,377 Posts
Sorry, I must respectfully disagree;
1. quality kits are simple to install and fit like a glove - if while installing you don't get a piece lined up correctly you can easily remove it and try again. After it's installed and you're happy, go over it with a heat gun (don't get carried away) or hair dryer to really set the adhesive.
2. nothing is going to break, they material is flexible - not hard
3. no idea about the adhesive being hard to remove, no way I'd take mine off and I can't imagine it would be any harder than trying to remove paint.
4. zero issues with any piece in my kit - again the material is not hard, it can't warp. I was more concerned that perhaps the summer heat would soften the adhesive - nope, didn't happen.
Quality being the key word in all of this! Buy a cheap kit from E-Bay and expect what you pay for.
I have some extra pieces of my dash kit, there where so many that I didn't install them all. If you're trying to make up your mind and would like to see it first hand I'll mail you a piece, just PM me your address.
There are also two pieces on all four doors that aren't shown below. (Damn, that stock stick looks funny - there's a short-throw shifter there now)
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3,487 Posts
^^^^^I'm sure the quality of various kits is not the same. My experience has been with factory accessory kits, which you would think would be high-quality. When the pieces are new, they are relatively flexible.....give them a few years and they're hard as a rock, and start cracking and peeling. The adhesive will harden quickly, and after a while you'll need a knife to remove it.
I can't tell you how many cars with these kits I've seen......with missing or cracked sections, that looked like crap after a few years. YMMV
I can't tell you how many cars with these kits I've seen......with missing or cracked sections, that looked like crap after a few years. YMMV
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2,377 Posts
OK, now that I'm awake!!
When did factory accessory kits start using high-quality parts? [hihi] Isn't that why we buy after-market parts to replace the factory crap?
There is no doubt in my mind that there is a HUGE difference in the quality of these kits. Though I can understand having the opinion you do if you have not had an opportunity to touch, feel and play with a high quality dash kit.
(bitrim.com) "Poorly engineered kits can include pieces with; oversized hole cut-outs around switches, undersized hole cut-outs that prevent switch function, uneven edges, non-symmetrical circles and pieces that look good installed, but, later peel off because the dash part was forced to fit over a complex curved surface (a common mistake with most of the engineers in the industry)"
The material in my kit is not "relatively flexible", it is extremely flexible. You could wrap it around your finger if you wanted to.
(bitrim.com) "Because dash kits install overtop of your factory parts, it is important to keep the profile thickness to a minimum to achieve a true factory look. All B&I dash kits feature an ultra-thin profile because we use premium materials such as low-build urethane, 3M .020" primer-less adhesive and .010" ABS."
Here, below is a picture of a piece that I didn't install, it's an extra door panel piece. (the right side has been cut to send a sample to someone).
And to demonstrate the flexibility, here's another pic of the same piece
One last shot, the same piece right after removing the rubberband.
And regarding the adhesive;
(bitrim.com) "We exclusively use premium 3M Acrylic Foam Adhesive across our entire dash trim product line. This 'factory approved' product does not require promoter and has several advantages over tapes that do: Installation is faster because you skip the time consuming step of applying promoter
No, I do not work/represent or have any affiliation with BITrim. I just happen to believe, from my personal experience, that they have a very high quality product. I expect my remaining exposed factory dash to have problems before I have any with my dash kit.
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4,107 Posts
You need to get rid of those autozone pedal covers.
oh and i vote dash kit.
oh and i vote dash kit.
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2,377 Posts
[
] Hmm, I like 'em and have received a lot of compliments on how well they match with the dash. Oh well, to each their own.
Personally I think the funniest thing in that pic is the stock shifter. I have a short-throw installed now and that stock one looks like it's on Viagra.
PS: Good guess but JEGS, not AutoZone.
] Hmm, I like 'em and have received a lot of compliments on how well they match with the dash. Oh well, to each their own.Personally I think the funniest thing in that pic is the stock shifter. I have a short-throw installed now and that stock one looks like it's on Viagra.
PS: Good guess but JEGS, not AutoZone.
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2,377 Posts
Yeah, time will tell. I'm serious though, if you want to see it up close and personal I will mail you a piece of it, I've done it before. Just PM your address and I'll drop a piece in the mail to you. The last recipient was pleasantly surprised when he got a piece in his hands.
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3,487 Posts
^^^^No thanks. They look nice, but simply looking at a piece of the stuff wouldn't tell you much about their durability.
FWIW....the factory accessory dash kits I installed, carried a one year guarantee, so I was forced to repair quite a few. I'd get the replacement kit which was everything (you couldn't buy a single piece). Then I'd find the color was slightly different from the original, so I'd have to remove everything, instead of the few bad pieces.
And the company expected you to do this in about an hour or so.....and paid me accordingly. I usually lost 1-2 hrs on the whole job. Those kits left a bad taste in my mouth. So.....not for my cars.
FWIW....the factory accessory dash kits I installed, carried a one year guarantee, so I was forced to repair quite a few. I'd get the replacement kit which was everything (you couldn't buy a single piece). Then I'd find the color was slightly different from the original, so I'd have to remove everything, instead of the few bad pieces.
And the company expected you to do this in about an hour or so.....and paid me accordingly. I usually lost 1-2 hrs on the whole job. Those kits left a bad taste in my mouth. So.....not for my cars.
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69 Posts
I got my dash kit on Ebay when I wasn't big on research. From that, you can guess I'm also not the most patient person. I did have a bit of an issue trying to place the kit delicately enough to avoid a bubble here or there. Also, the smaller pieces did have the edges coming off.
Despite these few complaints, I love the look. The pieces are flexible and holding up nicely. At first glance, I feel the car looks like it has a more luxurious flair with the "metal" trim. (Pics are in my gallery.)
Despite these few complaints, I love the look. The pieces are flexible and holding up nicely. At first glance, I feel the car looks like it has a more luxurious flair with the "metal" trim.
(Pics are in my gallery.)
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